Be still my heart, the Braves win two in a row

Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones smashed back-to-back homers in the Braves five run seventh to vault them to a 9-5 win over the Rockies. Johnson continued his lightning hot streak hitting his first of two homeruns in the opening inning while James Parr delivered again in his second career start. A four run seventh by the Rockies prevented James from picking up his second win of the season, which is a shame after he went six innings, allowing five hits but no runs.

Well if that isn’t something to cheer about, I don’t know what is? Maybe Bobby Cox’s declaration that he will be back in 2009? I know there are a lot of people who would like Cox to retire and give the reigns to another manager, Braves hitting coach Terry Pendelton perhaps? But I’m not one of them. With the amount of injuries the Braves have suffered, I don’t know any other coach that could have vaulted this team to the playoffs. The lack of wins in one run and extra inning games is certainly a problem, but I’d be happy to have Bobby back for one more season.

News&Notes: Chipper Jones’ homerun tied him with Duke Snider for 42nd on the all-time homeruns list…John Smoltz had some reassuring words for reliever Mike Gonzalez after he blew his first save opportunity in four years…Peter Moylan’s rehab has been going very well. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, Moylan has cut his hair and got contact lenses. So I guess we’ll have a whole new Peter next season.

(Photo: AP)